Bath cabinet



R. J. KIDENEY ET AL BATH CABINET lllllbll ilb uw @ec. 23, 1924. R. J. KIDENEY ET AL BATH CABINET Filed .Sept. 6, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 23, 1924-.

UNHTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT J. KIDENEY AND SYLVIA I]. KIDENEY, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

BATH CABINET.

Application filed September 6, 1921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, R-oBnRT J. KmnNnY and SYLVIA L. KIDENEY, citizens of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Bath Cabinets, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a bath cabinet and more particularly to a bath cabinet which is heated electrically for the purpose of treating persons occupying the cabinets.

One of objects of this invention is to provide a cabinet which is compact in construction and foldable, so that the same can be stowed away in a small space when not in use, and also transported conveniently.

Another object of this invention is to pro vide a cabinet of this character which can be produced at low cost, which will conserve the heat so as to admit of operating the same economically, and which can be operated by the person using the same without requiring an extra attendant.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of our improved bath cabinet, showing the cover of the same raised for exposing its interior. Figure 2 is a similar View of the cabinet folded and in condition for transportation and stowage. Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the upper part of the cabinet, showing the cover in its normal position ready for using the cabinet. Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal sect-ion of the cabinet ready for use. Figure 5 is a horizontal section taken on line 5-5, Fig. t. Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the upper part of the cabinet, showing the rearmost section of the same in its closed position. Figure 7 is a similar View, showing the rear and intermediate sections of the cover in a closed position. Figure 8 is a vertical transverse section taken on line 8-8, Fig. 2. Figure 9 is a fragmentary vertical transverse section taken on line 9-9, Fig. 3, and showing the manner of supporting the cover of the cabinet on the side walls of the same. Figure 10 is a fragmentary vertical section, on an enlarged scale, taken on line 10-10, Fig. l.

Serial No. 498,828.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

In its general organization, this cabinet comprises a plurality of upright walls, a cover adapted to engage with the upper edges of the walls, and form a closure with the latter. In case this cabinet is to be used for treating the patient by means of dry heat, the interior of the cabinet is electrically heated.

In the preferred construction of the cabinet shown in the drawings, the same comprises a rear upright wall 20 extending across the rear side of the cabinet, and two side walls 21, 22 which converge forwardly and the rear ends of which engage with the opposite vertical edges of the rear wall, while their front ends engage with each other and form with the rear wall an enclosure which is substantially triangular in cross section. The rear wall 20 is preferably flat while the side walls 21 and 22 are curved outwardly, so that the horizontal section of these several walls have approximately the form of an acorn or fiat iron. Each of these walls may be made of any suitable construction, but each of the same preferably consists of an outer layer 23 of sheet metal and an inner layer 2d of fiber, such as paper or wood board, which layers may be secured together in any suitable manner. This construction is not only very strong and light, but owing to the inner fiber layer, the heat within the cabinet is conserved and available for treating the patient instead of escaping to the external atmosphere.

For the purpose of further conserving the heat within the cabinet, the lower edges of the several walls are provided with a packing whereby a tight joint is formed between the lower edges of the several walls and the floor upon which the cabinet rests. In the preferred form of this packing the same is constructed of a strip of rubber 25 which is U-shaped in cross section and receives in its channel the lower edge of the respective wall, as shown in Fig. 10. This packing or bearing strip may be secured to the wall by cement or otherwise, and owing to its elastic character will produce a comparatively airtight fit between the walls and the floor, so as to prevent the passage of any air into or out of the cabinet and thus conserve the heat for treating the patient.

The several walls are preferably connected with each other in such manner that the same may be folded compactly for storage and transportation. In the present instance, this is accomplished by. pivotally connecting one of the vertical edges of the rear wall with the rear edge of the side -Wall -QI by means of a hinge 26, while the opposite vertical edge of thisrearwall is tletachably connected with the rear end of the other side wall 22 bymea'ns' of a'hasp27, asshown in Fig. 1, or by any othersuitable'means, and the front edges of the two side walls 21 and 22 are pivotally connected with each other by means of a vertical hinge 28. When folding this cabinet, so as to render the same more compact for sto'wage'or transportation, the rear wall is swung inwardly towards the inner sideofthe side wall 21 and the side wall 22 is swung inwardly toward the outer side of the rear wall, as shown in Fig. 2, tliereby producing a very compact structure which can be readily stowed away ina small space and also transported at low cost whenit is desired to ship the same from one'iplace'to another.

The upper edges ofthe several walls are so constructed that the same 'slope downwardly fromthe rear part ofthe cabinet to the frontpartof the same, andin'the preferred construction, the rear parts 29 of the sloping edge portions are horizontal and the front parts 7 O of the same incline down wa'rdly from'the stra'ightedge portions 29,

to the front end of the cabinet, as best shown in Figs. 1, '3 and 4.

The cover forthe top of this cabinet may also be variously constructed, so that the same maybe moved into and out of its operative position and alsofolded into space be tween adjacent walls of the cabinet when it is desired'to stow or transport the same. In the preferred construction, this cover is generally of acorn or fiat-iron shape corresponding to the horizontal sectional form ofthe space enclosed by the walls of'the cabmet when the latter are in their operative position, and an opening 30 is formed in this cover which receives the neck of the patient while his body is withinthe cabinet and his head is above the same during'the operation of taking a treatment. In the construction shown in the drawings, this cover consists of a rear section '31 which is equal in width to the horizontal edge portions 29 and v is adapted to rest thereon when the cabinet is in use, an intermediate section 32 which inclines downwardly from the front edge of the rear section 31 and rests normally upon the rear portion of theinclined edge portions 30 of the side walls, and an inclined front section 33 which normally extends from the front edge of theintermediate section downwardly to the front end of the cabinet. Each section of the cover is also preferably constructed of an outer layer of sheet metal 54 and an inner layer of fiber or other heat insulating or nonconducting material, which layers may be secured together in any suitablemanncr, so 'as'to conserve the heat within the cabinet. The several sections of this cover are pivotally connected with each other and the rear section is pivotally connected wit'h'the-rearwalhso as to permit of swinging the same vertically into and out of their operative position, and also permit of folding the samerelatively to the side walls for surface on the side walls of ample width which supports the longitudinal edge portions of the cover when thelatter is'in its operative position, two angle irons or bars 37 are secured along the upper edges o'f-the side walls 21 and 22, so as to project inwardlytherefrom and form shelves which are engaged by the longitudinaledge [portions of the cover, as best shown inFi'g's. 4 and 9. The opening 30'in the cover'forrec'eiving the neck thereofis preferablyrormed partly in the rear section 31and partly in the intermediate section 32,so' that this neck opening extends across the hinge 35, as shown in Figs. 3 and 7.

For thejpurpose of stiffening the walls of the cabinet, the same are provided on their inner sides between the upper and lower edges thereof withbar's 38 of metal which preferably have the form of angle irons and may be secured to these walls by means of rivets 39 or otherwise.

In order to enable the patient to conveniently close the cover of the cabinet o'verhis head without requiring any assistance for this purpose, a handle a0 is attached to the underside of the intermediate section 32 which projects forwardly from the hinge thereof in the open position of this section on one side of the neck opening 30, as Sl1OW11.ll1 Fig. 6, where'the same is within convenient reach .of the patient and enables him to close this sectio'n'while occupying the chair a l within the cabinet and with his feet arranged in a tub of water 42, 'as shown by dotted lines inFig. 4. s

A si'i'nilar'handle 43 is secured to the undcrside of the front cover section 33, so'that YOU the same projects forwardly from this cover section when the same is turned backwardly into its inoperative position relatively to the intermediate section 32, and thus is accessible by the patient while he is occupying the cabinet and is therefore able to reach the same with his hand for closing this front cover section 33 without requiring the assistance of any other person for this purpose.

l Vhen this bath cabinet is to be used solely for giving the patient a vapor bath, the structure described thus far is suflicient for accomplishing this purpose, but when it is desired to give the patient a hot air bath, with or without the addition of avapor treatment, means are provided for heating the interior of the cabinet independently of the means which supply the heated vapor to the patient. It is preferable to employ for this purpose a plurality of electric incandcscent lamps M which are preferably mounted in horizontal rows on the bars 38 which reinforce or stiffen the walls of the cabinet. In the preferred construction, these lamps are so mounted on the bars 38 that they project u wardly and inwardly from the several bars 38, so that they can be renewed more easily when required and also direct the heat away from the inside of the cabinet walls and towards the patient under treatment. Each of these electric lamps is detachably mounted in a socket which is secured to a horizontal flange t6 on the respective reinforcing bar 38 and the wires for supplying the current to these several lamps are arranged within conduits d7 one of which is located underneath each of the bars 38 and supported on the adjacent wall by means of a clip Q8. The several wires which supply the current to these lamps terminate in a socket 4:9 which extends through one of the side walls of the cabinet. As shown in Fig. 10, this socket is adapted to receive the plug of a supply line which con nects with an electric source of any suitable character. Within the cabinet is arranged a hand-operated switch which is connected by means of a cable 51 with the wires of the lamps within the cabinet, so that it is possible for the patient within the cabinet to light or extinguish the lamps at will accordiug to the amount of heat desired.

It will be noted that in this construction the bars 38 not only serve as means for stiffening the walls of the cabinet, so that they are more rigid and durable, but they also serve as the means for supporting the lamps reliably in place within the cabinet.

If desired, the cover of the cabinet may rest upon the upper ends of the side walls solely by gravity, but for greater security, additional catches 52 may be employed for securing the rear section 31 to the adjacent parts of the side walls, as shown in Fig. i.

When the cabinet is set up for use, the side walls are unfolded and assembled with the cover, as shown in Fig. 1, at which time the front section 33 of the cover is folded backwardly upon the intermediate section, so that the cover may be swung backwardly along the rear wall of the cabinet without liability of injuring the front end of the cover. When, however the cabinet is folded for rendering the same more compact, the cover is swung downwardly against the outer side of the rear wall with the foremost section 33 turned upwardly and in the folded position of the cabinet this cover is arranged between the rear wall and the side wall 22, as shown in Fig. 2, thereby utilizing the space between the walls and avoiding any increase in bulk for accommodating the cover.

As a Whole, this bath cabinet is very convenient, inasmuch as the same can be readily unfolded for use and also compactly folded for storage. Furthermore, the electric lamps for heating the same are so disposed on the walls of the cabinet that they are not liable to be broken when the cabinet is folded, but on the contrary, they are protected against damage, so that they are not liable to be broken when the cabinet is stowed away or transported, thus leaving the cabinet constantly in such condition that it is readily available for use.

We claim as our invention:

1. A bath cabinet comprising a rear wall and two side walls converging forwardly from the opposite vertical edges of the rear wall and connected with each other at their front ends, one of said side walls being pivotally connected at its rear end with one vertical edge of said rear wall and pivotally connected at its front end with the front end of the other side wall.

2. A bath cabinet comprising a rear wall and two side walls converging forwardly fro-m the opposite vertical edges of the rear wall and connected with each other at their front ends, said rear Wall being pivotally connected at one vertical edge with the rear end of one of said side walls and detachably connected at its opposite vertical edge with the rear end of the other side wall, and the front ends of said side walls being pivotally connected with each other.

3. A bath cabinet comprising a rear wall and two side walls converging forwardly from the opposite vertical edges of the rear wall and connected with each other at their front ends, said rear wall being pivotally connected at one vertical edge with the rear end of one of said side walls and detachably connected at its opposite vertical edge with the rear end of the other side wall, and the front ends of said side walls being pivotally connected with each other and said walls being foldable relatively to each other so thatthe rear Wall is arranged between said side walls.

4. A bath cabinet comprising a rear Wall,

two forwardly converging side Walls-engag- 5 ing their rear ends With opposite vertical edges of the rear Wall and engaging each other at their front ends, and a Vertically intermediate section.

swinging cover having'an opening andhziving a rear section pivoted to the rear Wall,

an intermediate section pivoted to the rear 10 section, and a front section pivoted to the ROBERT J. KIDENEY. SYLVIA L. KIDENEY. 

